SOLUTION: My equation is -20/5-(-3)^2 The answer I got using the order of operation is 5 but the algebra calculator says -13. This answer requires me to divide before doing exponent. W

Algebra ->  Signed-numbers -> SOLUTION: My equation is -20/5-(-3)^2 The answer I got using the order of operation is 5 but the algebra calculator says -13. This answer requires me to divide before doing exponent. W      Log On


   

Question 927062: My equation is -20/5-(-3)^2 The answer I got using the order of operation is 5 but the algebra calculator says -13. This answer requires me to divide before doing exponent. Why would I not use order of operation?
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
-20/5-(-3)^2 has the calculator thinking you mean -20%2F5-%28-3%29%5E2

but what you really want is -20%2F%285-%28-3%29%5E2%29

so you need to enclose the denominator 5-(-3)^2 in parenthesis like this:

-20/(5-(-3)^2)